If your cat has been rubbing itself on your clothes, this post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat rub itself on my clothes? Possible reasons why your cat rubs itself on your clothes are that it has an itch, it likes the smell of your clothes, it likes the scent on your clothes, or that it just finds your clothes comfortable.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat rubs itself on your clothes and it might be due to a combination of causes. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are a number of things you can do about it.
Why does my cat rub itself on my clothes?
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main cause.
It likes the scent
The reason why your cat rubs itself on your clothes might be that it makes your cat feel safer because your clothes have your scent on them. This would be more likely to be the reason why your cat does it if it tends to rub itself on your clothes when you are away and if it tends to stay where you are when you are home.
It likes the smell
The cause might be that it likes the smell of the clothes. This would be more likely if it tends to roll in them at random times and if it also rolls on things with your scent on such as your bed or the area you tend to sit in.
Related: why does my cat rub itself on the floor?
Itchiness
Another possible cause is that your cat has an itch. This would be more likely if your cat has also been rubbing itself on other things in a similar way as well.
Separation anxiety
It might also be the case that your cat has been doing it due to having some separation anxiety and the scent on your clothes calms it down when you are not around. This would be more likely if your cat tends to start being anxious when you are leaving and if it rubs itself on other things with your scent on, such as your pillow, when you are not around. It would also be more likely if your cat doesn’t rub itself on your clothes when you are around and if it follows you around a lot.
Comfort
The cause could also be that your cat simply finds the clothes comfortable. This would be more likely if your cat tends to rub itself on your clothes at random times and it does not seem to be looking for attention when it does it.
Things to consider about your cat rubbing itself on your clothes
Below are some things you can consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always rubbed itself on your clothes
If your cat did not always rub itself on your clothes, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. For example, if your cat started doing it since you started using a different detergent, it would be more likely to be due to a change in the smell of the clothes.
What is different when your cat does not rub itself on your clothes
If your cat also seems to rub itself on your clothes more at a certain time, it would help to consider what else is different about the timing. For example, if your cat seems to do it more when you are not home, it could be due to some separation anxiety.
What to do about your cat rubbing itself on your clothes
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Leave your clothes elsewhere
One option would be to keep your clothes in locations that your cat cannot get to. By doing this, it will not be possible for your cat to rub itself on your clothes.
Give it another place to sleep
Another option would be to give your cat another spot where it can sleep. One way to do this could be to get a cat bed and to put it where it normally rubs itself on your clothes.
Why does my cat roll on my clothes?
Your cat might roll on your clothes for any of the reasons mentioned above. It would help to consider if there is a certain time that your cat tends to do it more and what else happened when your cat first started doing it.
Why does my cat roll on my dirty clothes?
If your cat only seems to roll on your dirty clothes, it would be more likely that your cat does it because it likes the smell of your clothes.